Easter: Secondus, Atiku call for prayer, love

In their Easter celebration messages, both the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus and the party’s presidential candidate in the 2019 presidential poll, Atiku Abubakar, charged Nigerians to explore the season to pray to God for unity and love of the country.

Prince Secondus urged Nigerians to use the period of Easter to pray fervently for a brand new Nigeria to emerge from the challenges of COVID-19, adding that the situation in the World today and in particular the country entails that they reinvigorate their supplications to God.

The PDP boss said in a statement signed by his spokesperson Ike Abonyi, that the fact that Christendom is forcefully celebrating Easter in their homes and not in their Churches against their wish and desire, challenges all Christians to give new strength and energy to their prayers to God.

“If Jesus Christ’s coming to the Earth and dying for mankind took us from old to New Testament in the scripture, let’s use the challenge of this time to pray for a new world where God will take preeminence.

“Even those who do not believe in God are beginning to have deeper reflections on their position given the global happenings to know that any service to mankind that does not put God first is heading for ruin.

Prince Secondus said that period of Easter provides hope to mankind as Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection opened the way for salvation for us.

“If Christ’s death on Good Friday gave us hope of resurrection on Easter Day, we should see the COVID-19 pandemic as a challenge to take us to a new World order.

“Nigerians should therefore pray for the emergence of a new Nigeria from the scourge of Coronavirus.

Prince Secondus finally warns Nigeria leaders who are trying hard to profit from the challenges of COVID-19 to note its consequences for them and their generations.

“If by providence you are opportune to provide service to the people at this time, do just that and await the blessings that accompany it rather than trying to profiteer on the situation.

He assured Nigerians that the new PDP that would emerge after reformation is going to take the country out of the wood having been equipped with the requisite experience.

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The PDP boss admonished Nigerian leaders to absorb the lessons of Easter and allow it influence their conduct, especially as it concerns the less privileged in the society.

Meanwhile, former Vice President of Nigeria and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general election, Atiku Abubakar, enjoined Christians and indeed all Nigerians to endeavour to keep love alive and continue to lend a helping hand to the less fortunate despite present difficulties.

In his Easter message, released by his Media Office, the Waziri Adamawa reminded Christians that according to their faith, what is happening today all around the world with the global COVID-19, is reminiscent of the tribulations, trial and suffering of Jesus Christ as he set out to fulfill his mandate of saving mankind.

 Atiku said after all that Christ went through, he triumphed the machinations of his enemies, which is the reason for the Easter celebrations.

The former Vice President said that Christians and mankind in general shall overcome the present predicament of lockdown, sit-ins and social distancing to celebrate the end of the pandemic and life would gradually return to normal again.

The former Vice President commended well-meaning Nigerians who have from the abundance of their God-given resources made financial contributions to the Federal Government to enable the latter make reasonable provisions to assist the down- trodden in the society and reduce their level of despondency.

Atiku enjoined the Federal Government to borrow a cue from the contributions of individuals and to put in place as a government, a solid plan of action to provide succour and economic support to majority of Nigerians, many who before the pandemic have actually been languishing in poverty.

While urging  Christians to celebrate in moderation and continue to pray for the nation, he said that Christians, and indeed Nigerians in general should remember to always be their brother’s and sister’s keeper in spite of the lockdowns, self-isolation and concern with individual safety and try to lend support to the next-door neighbour who might be in need.